Chapter 35: A Beautiful Girl Takes on the Sports Festival (Part 3)

The morning events finally came to an end, and lunch break began.

Since I was supposed to eat with my family, I wandered around the spectator area.

Ugh… I can feel people staring at me. Could everyone not be so obvious about it? I mean, these parents all have high school kids, so a high schooler like me walking around shouldn’t be that strange. And it’s lunchtime—there are plenty of other students wandering about too.

…And then it hit me.

Oh no! I forgot to change into my gym clothes! I’m still in that embarrassing outfit! No wonder everyone’s staring. I mean, if a girl walks around in something this revealing, of course people are going to think, “Kids these days…”

Wait—someone’s actually taking pictures!? What the heck!? Do I look like some kind of rare cosplayer or something? This is beyond awkward…

Anyway, I can’t let my family see me like this. I’d better go change—yes, that’s the plan.

"Ah! Found you, Ayumi-neechan!"

The moment I heard that familiar voice, my face must’ve twisted in pure dread. Just as I was heading for the changing room, I ran into my little brother, Kaname.

Great. Worst timing ever. Now I can’t escape.

By the time I realized wandering near the parent seats was a mistake, it was already too late. I’d meant to change before lunch, but I got too caught up in the excitement and totally forgot.

I really am hopeless when it comes to important things.

"Ayumi-neechan, it’s pretty rare for you to wear something so sexy."

"S-shut up! I didn’t have a choice, okay!?"

Getting called “sexy” by my fifth-grade little brother is honestly soul-crushing.

There are little kids watching the sports festival too, so wearing something like this is totally inappropriate! The school should’ve banned these kinds of outfits, seriously.

Kaname gave me a slow, deliberate look—from the top of my head all the way down to my toes. Even if we’re family, being stared at like that is really embarrassing…

"You should dress like that at home too. It’s a waste since you’re cute."

"Absolutely not!"

Kaname just shrugged casually.

What’s with that “what can you do” kind of gesture!? Is this kid really in elementary school? He’s way too mature for his age.

Maybe it’s because he hangs out with Ryoji a lot. Yeah, that’s definitely it. Ryoji must’ve corrupted him somehow. I’ll scold him next time I see him!

While I was mentally lowering Ryoji’s reputation by several notches, Kaname suddenly grabbed my hand—firmly—and pulled me along.

"Come on, Ayumi-neechan, this way! Everyone’s waiting!"

Ugh… so much for changing. Guess I’ll have to eat lunch like this. If I went back now, I wouldn’t have any time left to eat anyway. I’ll just have to give up.

"My, my, Ayumi-chan. That’s quite the daring outfit today! Are you trying to seduce your mom? Or—gasp—could it be your dad!?"

"Ahaha… Ayumi… Daddy wouldn’t mind that at all, you know?"

"I’m not trying to seduce anyone!"

"Dear…? Don’t tell me you’re actually looking at Ayumi-chan that way?"

Dad froze mid-reaction as Mom gave him a cold, sharp glare. Yikes. Her eyes are terrifying.

Well, of course she’s upset—no sane father should look at his own daughter like that! Then again, sanity has never been this family’s strongest trait…

"No, no! Definitely not! Dad’s just joking, right!?"

"Hmm…? It didn’t sound like a joke to me—"

"W-Wow, look at that! I’m so hungry! What’s for lunch, Mom!?"

I hurriedly cut the topic short, forcing the conversation to shift.

Dad, seriously, that kind of comment is dangerous! Read the room, please! How can you say that in front of Mom!? One wrong move and we’d have a full-scale Sakura Family Civil War!

"Now, Ayumi, the truth is—Daddy lo—"

"Waaah! The way you arranged everything looks so pretty, Mom! You’re amazing!"

Someone please do something about this man. He’s been working late nights lately—maybe it’s finally scrambled his brain!?

Why does he keep pushing when I’m clearly trying to end the topic!?

Do parents not realize how awful it feels to be caught between their arguments? Seriously, spare me the emotional trauma.

"Today I made all of your favorites, Ayumi-chan!"

Thanks to my desperate diversion, Mom’s mood seemed to recover. A peaceful home really is the best.

"Ooooh!"

The lunch Mom had prepared looked absolutely delicious.

At school, I usually make my own lunch, but seeing this spread makes it painfully clear I’ve still got a long way to go. Every dish was perfectly made, and even the arrangement inside the box was flawless.

Ugh, I hate to admit it—but Mom’s skill is unbeatable.

"Ayumi-neechan, here—say ‘ahhh’!"

Kaname held up a piece of fried chicken in front of me.

I stared at it silently.

"Wow, that omelet looks yummy."

Then, I elegantly ignored his gesture.

And sure enough—Kaname’s shoulders trembled as he lowered his head.

Sniff "Ayumi-neechan’s being mean…"

"Now, now, Ayumi-chan, don’t make Kaname sad."

"Yeah, Ayumi, give the boy some attention."

And somehow I ended up being the bad guy. This has practically become our family’s new normal.

Kaname only acts like an innocent little brother when it benefits him… I’m so proud of my clever sibling.

"Fine, fine… ahhh."

"Ayumi, try smiling more when you do that."

"What—whaaat!?"

Dad raised his camera.

I froze in shock.

Why the heck is he holding something that huge!? It looks like a bazooka! Is he going off to war or something!?

Looking closer, there were several more lenses spread out on the picnic sheet. And that big box behind him—wait, that’s not a cooler, it’s a lens case!

"What… what is all this!?"

"It’s your big day, Ayumi! So I splurged a little☆"

A middle-aged man struck a smug “tehepero” pose.

“Splurged a little,” he says. Does he even realize how much that setup costs!? For a high school sports festival!?

"This camera’s amazing," Mom chimed in. "Ayumi-chan looked like a tiny speck before, but now she’s perfectly zoomed in—so clear and beautiful!"

"I even got some photos I want to frame," Dad said proudly.
"Make me a poster too, Dad!" Kaname added.

At this point, they weren’t just doting parents—they were full-blown fools. And my little brother was one of them.

Dragging around a bazooka-sized lens for a school event? Totally over the top. The other parents can’t compete with this level of obsession.

I thought sitting in the cheering section would keep them from seeing me in this embarrassing cheerleader outfit, but I was naïve. With that ultra-telephoto lens, there’s no escaping their gaze. How humiliating…

Still, it’s just photos, right? I’ll pretend it doesn’t bother me and focus on the lunch instead.

"Itadakimasu."

"Here, say ‘ahhh’!"

Kaname suddenly held out a piece of fried chicken again.

He didn’t forget!? I thought the whole camera chaos had buried that scene!

I sighed and let him feed me. Ah… it’s actually delicious. I couldn’t help but smile.

Kaname’s face lit up at my reaction—he looked genuinely happy. At times like this, he really does seem like a normal, cute kid for his age.

But then, for some reason, he suddenly wrapped his arms around me.

"What’s this about now...?"

I let out an exasperated sigh.

"I like you better than the girls in my class, Ayumi-neechan."

…Huh? I wasn’t sure what he meant, but it sounded harmless enough. Still, I thought, you should treasure your classmates too, okay?

Not that I’m one to talk—I spent most of middle school completely friendless. But lately… maybe I can say it now. I’ve actually made some friends!

"So, Ayumi-neechan, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Wh—!?"

The completely random question hit me so hard I choked.

"Of course not!"

What’s going through this kid’s head!?

Sure, I look like a girl right now, but it’s not like I’d go and get a boyfriend or something! I’m still a guy on the inside—well, mostly. I might’ve gotten used to being like this lately, but still! I’m proud of being a guy at heart!

"Really? But when you were cheering, all those guys were talking to you, and you were smiling back at them!"

How closely has he been watching me!? From the parent seats, he shouldn’t even see that far! He should’ve been paying attention to the competitions!

And it wasn’t just guys talking to me—there were lots of girls too! I don’t know why, but people just keep coming up to talk to me.

"Well, we all know Ayumi-chan’s true love is Ryoji-kun," Mom teased.

"Why are you bringing Ryoji into this!? He’s a good friend, that’s all! I don’t see him like that—and besides, he’s a guy!"

"Oh my, then does that mean you’d rather date a girl?"

"Ayumi," Dad interjected solemnly, "I can’t approve of same-sex relationships."

Hmm… I wonder which counts as same-sex love here. It’s a tricky question.

Dating a boy? That’s technically same-sex love, at least internally.
Dating a girl? That’s visually same-sex love. Either way, I guess it’s kind of “out of bounds.”

Dating a boy? Honestly, not happening right now.
Dating a girl? I feel… hesitant. Right now, I’m somewhere in the gray area.

But no matter how I feel, there’s no way Ryoji would ever date me.
He knows I used to be a boy… there’s no chance he’d see me that way.

"Well… same-sex love isn’t happening, so it’s probably fine. Besides, I’m not exactly the kind of person who’d find someone easily."

"Ehh, no way! Ayumi-neechan, you get love letters all the time! They’re in your desk, right? You’ve got tons of people vying for you!"

"W-why do you know that…?"

Ever since entering school, I’ve been getting love letters pretty often. Even if they’re left in my locker, I never read them. If I did, I’d feel obliged to reject them properly—but that’s awkward too. So I just pretend not to see them… but throwing them away feels wrong. And so, they’ve been piling up in my desk.

"Good thing Ayumi-neechan doesn’t have a boyfriend. If you liked someone, I’d be devastated. Then I couldn’t marry you!"

"Uh, no. Whether I have a boyfriend or not, I can’t marry you. You’re my brother."

"B-but love shouldn’t have barriers!"

Some barriers just shouldn’t be crossed, though.

"Well, if it’s someone you bring home, Ayumi-chan, Mom doesn’t care if it’s a boy or a girl♪ But when choosing, you have to be honest with your feelings."

Mom’s face suddenly turned serious.

Honest with myself… got it. I’ll remember that.

Oh no—I haven’t eaten my lunch at all. I glance at the clock—there’s barely any time left in the break. I hurriedly start portioning out my food.

"Ayumi-chan, just eat like that. Don’t move for a second."

Mom ran a comb through my hair. It actually felt… nice.

"You’ll be doing a lot of exercise, so I should tie your hair up."

She gathered my hair gently and tied it with a black ribbon—first the right, then the left.

My hair was now neatly styled in twin tails. Wow… my neck feels so cool compared to usual. Mom beamed. "Perfect."

"Ayumi-neechan, any hairstyle looks good on you!"

"R-really? Th-thanks."

Being praised so directly—even by my little brother—made me blush.

I checked the clock again. Ah, time’s almost up.

"Thanks for the meal. I’m heading out now."

"Ayumi, what events are left for you?"

"Obstacle race and three-legged race, I think."

"And Ayumi-chan, don’t forget the cheering competition. You’re part of the cheering squad."

Ah… that embarrassing cheering thing. I wanted to forget it, but Mom just reminded me. Well, it’s the first event of the afternoon, so I’d have remembered anyway.

The cheering competition isn’t really about cheering. It’s more of a team performance—each color group does a choreographed dance together.

With around 120 people per team, you normally wouldn’t stand out. But as a member of the cheering squad, I have to dance right in front of the parent seats.

I’d heard the competition awards points, but I was curious how rankings were decided. Apparently, the sports festival program given to parents has a form to vote for the best team. So the parents’ votes decide the ranking.

It’d make more sense to showcase the seniors’ dances, but for some reason, I have to perform front and center.

Ah… I’ve never danced perfectly before… can I even pull this off…?

"Ayumi-neechan, it’s almost time."

"Oh, right. I’ll go now."

"““Good luck!””"

I can’t expect to rank very high, but being cheered on makes me a little happy. Especially today, when I’ve been doing all the cheering myself—it warms my heart.

…Alright. Time to give it my best this afternoon.